Pin-connected member – a member connected by hinges at both ends. Such members occur in trusses, and their main characteristic is that they carry only axial loads (normal forces).
Only normal stresses occur in pin-connected members, and their calculation reduces to determining the axial force and dividing it by the cross-sectional area. In addition to strength criteria, compressed pin-connected members are often checked for stability loss (buckling).
To learn more, read : Calculating support reactions in trusses.
